The Terrornauts

Watch The Terrornauts

"The virgin sacrifice to the gods of a ghostly galaxy!"
  • 1967
  • 1 hr 15 min
  • 4.8  (640)

The Terrornauts is a science fiction film from 1967 directed by Montgomery Tully, and it stars Simon Oates, Zena Marshall, and Charles Hawtrey. The movie takes place in the fictional British city of Bray where a group of scientists, led by Doctor Joe Burke (Simon Oates), are experimenting with a new machine called the "Space Platform." The platform is designed to send people and equipment to Mars using a new form of propulsion. However, they soon find out that the machine is much more powerful than they ever could have imagined.

At the beginning of the movie, Doctor Burke and his team are in the final stages of testing the Space Platform. The team consists of a diverse group of people - hands-on engineer Ben Keller (Max Adrian), computer genius Maggie (Patricia Hayes), and the somewhat bumbling and eccentric Professor Quatermass (Charles Hawtrey). After some setbacks, the machine finally works, and they send a camera to Mars to look for signs of life.

They quickly discover a hostile alien race on the planet that is preparing to invade Earth. The aliens are led by a superior and powerful being named "Mentor," who orders his minions to steal the platform and bring it to Mars. The team in Bray quickly realizes that they have to stop Mentor and his army of aliens from reaching Earth. They then become "terrornauts" - a term which refers to astronauts that face terror and danger in space.

The remainder of the film follows the scientists as they try to save the world from the alien invasion. They end up taking the Space Platform on a dangerous and perilous journey to Mars, where they meet Mentor and his army. They are joined by a new member of the team, an astronaut named Laura (Zena Marshall) who has been sent to help them.

There are several exciting scenes of conflict and suspense throughout the movie. The team faces various obstacles such as avoiding energy blasts from the aliens and navigating through treacherous terrain. There is also a romantic subplot between Burke and Laura, which adds an extra layer of tension to the already high stakes. Overall, the movie combines scientific exploration, thrilling action scenes, and a sense of humor.

One of the strengths of the movie is its special effects, which were quite impressive for its time. The Space Platform, Mars, and the alien ships are all well-designed and convincingly brought to life. The aliens themselves are particularly memorable, with their glowing red eyes and menacing space suits.

The Terrornauts is not without faults, however. Some of the dialogue and acting can be a bit hokey or wooden at times, and the film's pacing can be slow in places. Additionally, the movie has a low budget, which is evident in some of the cheaper special effects and sets.

Despite these flaws, The Terrornauts is an enjoyable and underrated piece of science fiction filmmaking. It is a product of its era, with all the style and charm that comes with it. At its core, the movie is a classic adventure story of heroes facing impossible odds and triumphing against evil. Fans of classic sci-fi films will surely find enjoyment in this entertaining and exciting adventure.

The Terrornauts
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Description
  • Release Date
    1967
  • Runtime
    1 hr 15 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    4.8  (640)